Tucker "honored" to inspire rule change

Pictures of the Ravens game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17.

Jeff Zrebiec, The Baltimore Sun

In just two seasons in the NFL, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has won a Super Bowl, made a Pro Bowl, set multiple franchise records and hit six game-winning field goals.

And now, he can say that he helped inspire a rule change.

At this week’s owners meetings in Orlando, Fla., league owners approved the raising of the uprights to 35 feet, an increase of five feet which will make it easier for referees to determine whether a field goal is good or not.

The proposal for the rule change came from the New England Patriots who were victimized by a Tucker game-winning field goal back in September 2012 that flirted with the top of the right upright.

After Tucker’s 27-yard field goal gave the Ravens a last-second 31-30 victory, Patriots coach Bill Belichick made contact with a game official to contest the call. So, it’s hardly a surprise that it was New England which proposed the rule change.

For his part, Tucker is seemingly amused by the situation. He went on his Twitter page yesterday after news of the rule change came out to reiterate that the kick was good.

“The only guys who know exactly where that GWFG went vs NE are Sam Koch and myself. Not my best kick but still inside by about a foot,” Tucker tweeted.

He then added, “At the same time, pretty sweet that some football fans are calling this the 'Tucker Rule' haha! #honored”